Sentenced to Stigma: Segregation of HIV-Positive Prisoners - AL.com

Mississippi prisoner Larry P. stated:There is no confidentiality at all about our HIV, everyone knows. We’re notreferred to as HIV-positive, but as ‘the AIDS guys’. Officers wear gloves whenthey come onto our tiers. 75Mississippi prisoners described constantly being called “punks and faggots—the guardsassume we’re all gay.” 76 Another Mississippi prisoner, Michael G., stated, “the guards tell usto ‘get our sick asses out of the way’ when they pass us in the hallway.” 77In South Carolina and Mississippi the HIV-positive prisoners eat by themselves in the dininghall, and the prisoners who serve them reportedly display attitudes ranging from fear ofcontact to spitting and putting other bodily fluids into the food. 78 According to Mississippiprisoner Tom E., “the kitchen staff shove the trays at us to avoid accidentally touching us.” 79Each of these prison systems provide periodic information sessions to both staff andprisoners about HIV/AIDS. However, the decision to segregate HIV-positive prisoners activelypromotes myths and misinformation about the disease. Separation that has no medicaljustification facilitates prejudice, stigma, and discrimination within the prison and tocommunity members aware of these policies. Despite the gradual improvements that havetaken place in permitting HIV-positive prisoners to access programs, jobs and other in-prisonactivities, segregated housing remains incompatible with acceptance, inclusion and equality.As one prisoner put it, “they do education sometimes on HIV, but how can they say we’re thesame as everyone else when they don’t treat us that way?” 80Compromised Classification, Safety and SecurityAssignment to the HIV/AIDS housing unit is not based on the factors that correctionsofficials normally consider for safely classifying prisoners, but solely on the result of the HIVtest. Indeed, Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi disregard their own classificationplans when it comes to housing HIV-positive prisoners. Discrimination based on HIV status75 ACLU of Mississippi interview with Larry P., Mississippi State Penitentiary, Parchman, Mississippi, September 10, 2009.76 ACLU of Mississippi interview with Tom E., Mississippi State Penitentiary, Parchman, Mississippi, September 10, 2009.77 ACLU of Mississippi interview with Michael G., Mississippi State Penitentiary, Parchman, Mississippi, September 10, 2009.78 Human Rights Watch interview with David S., Charleston, South Carolina, August 21, 2009; ACLU of Mississippi interviewwith Tom E., Mississippi State Penitentiary, Parchman, Mississippi, September 10, 2009.79 ACLU of Mississippi interview with Tom E., Mississippi State Penitentiary, Parchman, Mississippi, September 10, 2009.80 Human Rights Watch interview with David S., Charleston, South Carolina, August 21, 2009.Sentenced to Stigma 28